Insect-trap.



PATENTED' MAY 7, 1907.

J. W. STODDBRS.

INSECT TRAP. AJPPIJIOATIO'LT FILED FEB. 11. 1907.

,n itnesses SWQMMIM.

JOHN WILLIAM STODDERS, OF MORDEN, MANITOBA, CANADA.

lNSECT THAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed February 11,1907- Serial No. 356,784.

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WIL IAM STOD- DERS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Morden, Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insect-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to insect traps and the object of the invention is to devise a fly or insect killer, which will not involve the use of sticky paper or poisonous substances and whereby constant attention will notbe required, and it consists essentially in a novel construction and arrangement whereby a rotating member on a stationary base carries the flies through a death chamber, the vari ous parts being described in detail in the following specification and shown in the aocompanying drawings that form part of the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device, showing the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 is a perspcc'tiveview of the complete trap. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of a portion of the device showing the ar rangement of the lamp.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings, a is a circular base or casing preferably of tin or other sheet metal and around the side of this casing is a ledge or shelf 1), from the inner side of which the casing extends upwardly to meet the top 1:.

Through the center of the top 0 a spindle (Z projects, to the top of which a circular sheet of wire gauze e is secured in such position as to just clear the top 0 when revolved. This piece of gauze is bent down around its outer edge to almost meet the outer edge of the ledge or shelf 1), thus forming an annular passageway 19 around the upper edge of the casing. The spindle (Z is geared to the spindle f which is actuated by the spring g. To prevent too rapid rotation of the spindle d it is connected through a train of gears h to an escapement 7), here shown as the ordinary lever motion used in small clocks. The spindles carrying these gears are mounted in the frame j which is secured inside the casing a. A portion 75 of the ledge b is depressed a sufficient distance to allow a fly to move about freely on it without being touched by the bent portion of the piece of gauze 6. This part of the ledge is also made wider so as to extend outwardly from the casing to form a lip Z. The slope up to its normal position of the part is should be quite gentle.

At the side of the casing diametrically opposite the lip Z is a recess m in the side of the casing. This recess is designed to hold a small spirit lamp n in such a position that the flame 0 enters the annular passageway 1) through an opening g in the bottom formed by the removal of a portion of the piece of metal forming the ledge b.

The opening thus caused may be partially filled by a piece 7" of steel wire netting or other suitable material through which the flame can pass without injury. The opening Q should not be entirely closed. The recess m is sufliciently large to hold a number of flies beside the spirit lamp and may be left open as shown or closed in with a suitable door to prevent the escape of anyflies which might be left alive after passing the flame.

At intervals through the passageway p are placed small pieces of gauze s of such form as to close the passage and divide it intoa number of cells t. These pieces 8 are secured at the tops and outer sides to the flat and bent portions respectively of the circular piece of gauze 6. They are of such size that their lower and inner sides do not touch the bottom or inner wall of the passage, so that the piece of gauze carrying them is to revolve.

To describe the operation of this invention: When the spring has been wound by inserting a key through the bottom of the casing (for which purpose a hole u is provided) the circular piece of gauze e commences to revolve. The train of gears should be so arranged that this revolution is at about the same rate as the minute hand of a clock.

Some suitable substance such as sugar should be placed on the lip Z and the lamp n is lit. When a fly, attracted by the sugar, alights on the lip Z it will probably climb the sloping part of the part 7c of the ledge and will enter one of the cells t. As the gauze disk 0 slowly turns it brings a cross piece 8 toward the level part of the floor of the passage and thus shuts the fly in a cell. The cell is finally brought around to the opening gin the ledge. Here the fly is exposed to the heat of the flame 0 and is thus destroyed, and swept on into the receptacle formed by the recess m, which may be from time to time emptied out.

The object of using gauze, in the construction, rather than a solid material is to keep the cells light, as it is well known that flies will not enter a dark place.

The only attention required for this trap is ito wind, and to replenish the oil in the lamp from time to time. The disagreeable task of drowning or otherwise killing the flies is eliminated and the device has no dirty or sticky parts so exposed as to readily soil the clothing, etc.

It will be understood that, while the method of destroying the flies here described is by cremation, any other suitable means, poison for example, might be placed in the compartment m;

What I claim as my invention is 1. An insect trap comprising a stationary base, a rotating member suitably jonrnaled on top of said base and forming therewith a partitioned passageway, and means for destroying insects entering said passageway, substantially as described.

2. A11 insect trap comprising a base having a jog toward the upper end thereof forming a ledge, a rotating member having a curtain depending from the outer edge thereof meeting the edge of said ledge and partitions from said curtain reaching inwardly to said jog wall, and means for destroying insects passing into the spaces between said partitions, substantially as described.

3. An insect trap comprising a circular base having a jog toward the top thereof forming a ledge and a lip leading to a depressed and inclined way to said ledge and a recess in the circumference thereof, a clockwork mechanism arranged within said base, a circular cover having a curtain depending from the outer edge thereof over the edge of said ledge and partitions extending inwardly from said curtain to said jog wall, and a lamp in said recess in the base having a flame reaching into the partitioned parts under said cover and forming a cremation chamber, substantially as described.

4. An insect trap comprising a circular base having a jog toward the top thereof forming a ledge, a transparent member having a transparent curtain depending from the outer edge thereof meeting the edge of said ledge and transparent partitions from said curtain reaching inwardly to said jog wall, and means for destroying insects entering said rotating member, substantially as described.

5. An insect .trap comprising a circular base having a jog toward the top thereof forming a ledge and a lip leading to a depressed. and inclined way to said ledge-and a recess in the circumference thereof, a clockwork mechanism arranged within said base, a circular cover rotated thereby having a curtain depending from the outer edge there of over the edge of said ledge and partitions extending inwardly from said curtain to said jog wall, a lamp in said recess in the base having a flame reaching into the partitioned parts under said cover and forming a cremation chamber, and a compartment in said base adapted to receive remains of the in sects, substantially as described.

Signed at Ottawa this fifth day of Decem ber 1906.

JOHN WILLIAM STODDERS.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. Mom, S. LURENA FARRELL. 

